Halladay, Thomas join Players Talk

If you're going to compete in the American League East, you had better have veteran leadership in the clubhouse and on the diamond. Roy Halladay and Frank Thomas, two guys who provide that leadership on the Toronto Blue Jays, are the guests on Players Talk this week.

Since winning the AL Cy Young award in 2003, Halladay has been slowed by a plethora of injuries, spending time on the disabled list on four separate occasions. This year, Doc sprinted to a 4-0 April record before being sidelined with appendicitis.

Now back from the injury, the 30-year old pitcher said he's excited to return to the front of the Jays' rotation.

"As a starting pitcher, you want to give your team a chance to win and save your bullpen," Halladay said. "There's a time in everyone's career when you just have to suck it up and go out and do your job."

Jays designated hitter Frank Thomas knows all about rebounding from injury. Last season, Thomas rebounded from two sub par, injury-plagued seasons to hit 39 home runs, en route to finishing third in AL MVP balloting.

Now in his 18th season, the future Hall of Famer is on the verge of joining one of the most elite groups in all of sports. With eight home runs this year, Thomas stands just five away from becoming the 21st member of the 500 home run club.

"I've worked hard throughout my career to get to 500 and I'm knocking on the door right now," Thomas said. "I've just got to keep the focus at the plate because discipline is what makes these things happen."

This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.